Innovation Ecosystem and Smart Specialization as a Driver of Regional Competitiveness – one of the Topics at the Kopaonik Business Forum

At the Kopaonik Business Forum (KBF), a special event was held that attracted the attention of leading experts and innovators from the region – the 8th Forum of Advanced Technologies, with a focus on the “Innovation Ecosystem and Smart Specialization as a Driver of Regional Competitiveness”. Moderation of the event was entrusted to Milan Ranđelović, PhD, managing director of STP Niš, who successfully led a dynamic discussion on the role of science and technology parks in regional development.

Relying on already existing potentials, the panelists emphasized that the key role is played by science and technology parks, which represent the support for regional development; one of their goals is to connect the potentials of the academic sector, industry and talented individuals. Their synergy creates activities, as well as park programs that are used in the most efficient way to support the development of regional innovation startup centers and incubators.

Stefan Badža from the Cabinet of the Prime Minister of the RS, Vladimir Radovanović from the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation, Vladan Atanasijević from the ComeTrade company, Predrag Nikolić from the Center for Digital Transformation and Boban Stojanović from the Faculty of Economics in Niš shared their opinions and views at the panel. The talks focused on the importance of education and a systemic approach to challenges in regional development, and on strengthening cooperation between faculties, institutes, and the economy; one of the goals set will be the creation of an accessible network of researchers and applicable results, which will encourage the development of innovative solutions.

This event was an introduction to and announcement of the upcoming 8th Forum of Advanced Technologies, scheduled for June this year in the Science and Technology Park Niš.

The Kopaonik Business Forum 2024 takes place from March 3 to 6 and has “New Global Context: Challenges of an Uncertain Future” as its central theme. The event attracts over a thousand participants annually, including heads of state, prime ministers, ministers, senior representatives of regulatory bodies, international financial institutions, distinguished academics, diplomats, business practitioners, and the media. Organized by the Serbian Association of Economists, the KBF strives to promote cooperation between relevant actors and to offer an interactive platform for the exchange of opinions and constructive debate.

The 7th Advanced Technologies Forum

This December 21, the Science and Technology Park Niš will host the 7th Advanced Technologies Forum, an event that brings together experts from the IT industry and entrepreneurship world. Panelists will lead discussions on the key transformations shaping these sectors through various panels, workshops, and lectures. The partners of this year’s event, including the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia – RPK Niš, the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation, the City of Niš, as well as the National Employment Service, the Society of Economists, and the NICat cluster, will contribute to the dynamic program of the forum. The focus of this meeting will be on innovative solutions and strategies that can encourage the development of the innovation ecosystem, with a special emphasis on the practical aspects of the entrepreneurial spirit in the digital age.

 

Save this date, more info coming soon…

Panel Discussion: Crisis in the IT Industry – Opportunity or Trouble?Panel Discussion: Crisis in the IT Industry – Opportunity or Trouble?

The rapid change of technology and the lack of qualified workforce that will keep up with the speed of changes, security threats, economic and regulatory changes, as well as the pandemic that created a global crisis, have changed the state of the IT industry on a global level in the past few years. All these crises require companies to be flexible, innovative and ready to change and progress in order to survive on the market.

Therefore, we are pleased to invite you to the upcoming panel discussion entitled “Crisis in the IT Industry – Opportunity or Trouble?” which will be held on December 7 at 6 p.m. in the Science and Technology Park Niš!

You will be able to hear how deep the crisis in the IT industry is both globally and on our market, what factors influenced the expansion of the crisis, as well as what the possible predictions of the direction of the crisis in the future are from experienced experts in the IT field.
The panel discussion is organized in partnership between Vega IT Niš and STP Niš, and our panelists will be Boban Mikšin, CTO at Vega, Veljko Radovanović, director and founder of Logik, Milan Ranđelović, PhD, managing director of STP Niš, and Goran Mladenović, executive director of the NiCat Cluster.

We expect as many of you as possible!

LAUNCHER is on! The Presentation of the First Niš Accelerator

Applications for the first Niš accelerator program – Launcher are well underway, and now you have the perfect opportunity to find out all the details related to this support program!

At the Meet Launcher: A Guide through the Acceleration Program Meetup, which takes place on November 29 at STP Niš, you will hear all about the new support program which is specially designed for startups in the early stages of development.

We will answer your most frequent questions:

Who can apply? – Find out if your startup is the right candidate for this program.
What awaits you in the program? –Familiarize yourself with the steps, training, and opportunities that Launcher offers.
What does financial support entail? – Get information about the financial aspects and benefits that Launcher provides.

But that is not all! We have also prepared a special surprise for you that will make this Meetup unique and unforgettable. We don’t want to reveal all the details, but we can guarantee you that the experience will be worth your time!

Important: To participate in this event, you must register via our registration form. Please secure your place in a timely manner to be a part of this unique experience.

We look forward to your arrival and joint exploration of the possibilities that the Launcher program offers!

This support program is implemented by the Science and Technology Park Niš and the company Fazi.

Startup Breakfast: Cyber Security Challenges in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Recognizing the importance of raising awareness about cyber-attacks, especially now that artificial intelligence is expanding, the next conversation at the Startup Breakfast will be focused on that exact topic.

Security in cyberspace is a growing problem for both individuals and companies, and a great threat to the development of a company’s business, especially with the development of artificial intelligence – a field that is becoming increasingly relevant.

Our interlocutor this time will be Vladan Todorović, founder of the company Advanced Security Technologies (ASD), which develops solutions in the field of cyber security. Vladan has over 20 years of experience in over 30 countries in the work of cyber security of critical systems, including the Olympic Games, stock exchanges, and corporations; he is the winner of several international recognitions, awards, as well as international patents, and he received his education at the universities of Niš, Barcelona, and Cambridge.

You can register to attend the event HERE.

Join us!